For the month of September we will be pausing our Gospel of Luke series to consider our call to make disciples.

As we were reminded recently, when Jesus called his first disciples (Luke 5:1-11), he accompanied it with an astonishing sign. After a night of fishing with nothing to show for it, Simon is asked to “put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” The result? “They enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.” Two boats couldn’t contain all the fish.

At that moment, with this stunning catch of fish in front of them, Jesus calls Simon to follow him: “From now on you will be catching men.” Considered alongside the sign, the implication was clear. Jesus has plans for another even bigger catch.

Fast forward to the close of Luke’s Gospel. In their final moments with their crucified and risen Lord, He commissions them.

“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:46–49)

“To all nations” is a pretty wide net. Matthew’s Gospel recalls Jesus’ commissioning with these more familiar words.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt. 28:19–20)

Our hope for this four-week series is that the Lord would use it to deepen our desire to make disciples, clarify our understanding of how we all participate in “catching men,” and lead each one of us to order our lives with greater intentionality to fulfill this great commission.

Our series will consider four questions.

SEP 5              Why Make Disciples?
SEP 12            What Is a Disciple?
SEP 19            How Are Disciples Made?
SEP 26           Who Makes Disciples?

We will also be devoting our evening service family time on September 5 to congregational prayer for the disciple making ministry of Grace in the coming year.

This Sunday, Jackson Randall will be preaching from Colossians 1:13-14 and Kenny Clark will be leading us in our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare?

Join us this Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

Song Link of the Week

King of Love by Steven Curtis Chapman

You left heaven’s throne to rescue what was lost
Stretching out Your mighty arms to bear the cross
Then you rolled away the stone, the victory won
And You said, “Go and tell the world what love has done”